Pascagoula cemetery up for public auction

PASCAGOULA, MS (WLOX) - If you've ever wanted to buy a cemetery, now is your chance. Jackson County Memorial Park in Pascagoula is now up for public auction.

"The former owner left the cemetery virtually bankrupt," said Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann.

In 2012, a judge asked the Secretary of State's Office to resolve the liens, tax claims and litigation against the property.

"No one would purchase the cemetery with so much debt pledged against the property," Hosemann explained. "Now that these issues are resolved, it is our hope someone will purchase this property and provide peace-of-mind to the families who have loved ones buried at Jackson County Memorial Park."

The cemetery consists of about 16 acres of land on Ingalls Avenue in Pascagoula and contains two mausoleum buildings, a lawn crypt, traditional ground interments, and a commercial grade lawn mower and trimmer. A perpetual care trust account of $197,000, which must be used for cemetery maintenance and care, will also be transferred upon the sale of Jackson County Memorial Park.

Bids must be submitted to:

Office of the Secretary of State, Attn: Dave Scott700 North StreetJackson, MS 39202

Bids must be received into the Secretary of State's office no later than 5:00 pm, Monday, February 3, 2014. Bids will be opened 10:00 am, Tuesday, February 4, 2014.

For a copy of the bid package, or for more information, contact Dave Scott, Assistant Secretary of State for Regulation and Enforcement at (601) 359-6747.